McPherson Elem School

McPherson Elem School, a substantial elementary-level community in Chicago, Illinois, one of the schools within Chicago Public Schools Dist 299, caters to 794 students, covering grades pre-K through 8. Enrollment runs roughly 108% above the state mean of about 381.

McPherson Elem School is one of 622 schools operated by Chicago Public Schools Dist 299, a district that enrolls 324,396 students overall.

In terms of who attends, McPherson Elem School reports that the largest single group is Hispanic at 47%, but no single group is in the majority. Other groups include 33% White, 8% Black, 7% multiracial, 5% Asian. By comparison, Cook County as a whole is about 27% Hispanic, so the school skews considerably more Hispanic than its surroundings.

In terms of school funding signals, McPherson Elem School shows 69 full-time-equivalent teachers, putting the student-to-teacher ratio at about 11.6:1. The state averages around 13.9:1, so this campus is tighter than the state norm typical. Roughly 42% of students at McPherson Elem School qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, often used as a Title I proxy. That share is south of Cook County's rate of about 66%.

On a demographically-adjusted basis, McPherson Elem School tracks the demographic baseline. The model predicts 47.4% given the school's FRL share; actual proficiency is 39.1%.

In the broader community, ACS estimates for Cook County put the typical household earns roughly $83,498 per year, 43% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, and roughly 10% of residents live below the federal poverty line. In all, Cook County runs 1406 public schools (combined enrollment of about 697,934 students), of which McPherson Elem School is one.

Devry Advantage Academy High Schl is the nearest neighboring public school, about 0.0 miles from this campus. Counting just inside five miles, 8 other public schools cluster around McPherson Elem School. Among the 9 schools in that immediate cluster with test data (this one included), McPherson Elem School ranks 7th on composite proficiency, beneath the local average of 47.9%.

McPherson Elem School operates from a city-core location.

Trend over the last 7 years. Looking back 7 years, enrollment at McPherson Elem School has expanded 15%, going from 692 students in 2018 to 794 in 2025. The Hispanic share of enrollment ticked down from 79% to 47% over that span. Class-load math has fell: from 14.5:1 in 2018 to 11.6:1 in 2025.

In the discussion threads here, the feed for McPherson Elem School typically covers pickup logistics, teacher feedback, and after-school programs. Parents, students, alumni, and staff are welcome to weigh in.